Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia to discuss rail and sea transport in tripartite meeting

A key transportation meeting involving Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia will take place on January 28.

According to a report by local media, this was confirmed during a video call between Iran's Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Farzana Sadiq, and Russia’s Minister of Transport, Roman Starovoit, per Caliber.Az.

Details regarding the location and the level of the meeting have not been disclosed.

The ministers discussed the technical and operational aspects of constructing the Rasht-Astara railway, which is a crucial part of the North-South international transport corridor. Additionally, they reviewed updates to the roadmap for joint cooperation through 2025 and addressed opportunities for increasing collaboration in utilizing the eastern Caspian Sea.

Minister Sadiq highlighted the integration of Iran’s Amirabad and Caspian ports into the national railway network, which will significantly enhance the potential of the Caspian Sea for regional trade and transportation.

She also stressed the importance of expanding Iran’s maritime and rail routes in alignment with the North-South corridor.

In May 2023, Iran and Russia signed an agreement to cooperate on the design, construction, and supply of goods and services necessary for the Rasht-Astara railway project. This new rail connection will link the rail systems of Iran, Azerbaijan, and other CIS countries.

Russia is providing a 1.3 billion euro intergovernmental loan to support the project, with a total estimated cost of 1.6 billion euros.

The meeting also included discussions on agreements and contracts made prior to the upcoming visit of Iran's President, Masoud Pezeshkian, to Russia.

Pezeshkian is expected to visit Russia on January 17, where a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement between the two nations is set to be signed.

By Tamilla Hasanova